Quarantine and COVID-19 rules when entering the United States

Image source: CBP Photo by Glenn Fawcett

Due to the corona crisis, we receive questions about the current U.S. travel restrictions as well as about the quarantine and COVID-19 regulations that apply upon entry and within the United States. We therefore provide general information regarding quarantine in the U.S. and also refer to the current COVID-19 / quarantine regulations of all U.S. states.

• General information on quarantine and U.S. entry

• Hygiene and distance rules

• On-site quarantine and COVID-19 rules depending on the U.S. state

• Regulations upon entry into the U.S.

• Regulations within the U.S.

• Quarantine and COVID-19 rules when leaving the country

General information on quarantine and U.S. entry

With the fall of the Travel Ban, travel to the U.S. can once again take place for many nations since November 8, 2021, albeit under strict hygiene guidelines.

The new regulation largely lifts the regulations for foreign travelers from certain countries that had been established until then and instead introduces a uniform global regulation.

Anyone entering the United States under these requirements after January 26, 2021, will receive an attestation (Passenger Attestation Statement) from the airlines, which must be signed.

Note: While individuals recovered from Corona in several European countries (including Germany) receive only a single dose of vaccine after infection and are considered fully vaccinated with only one dose of vaccine, this practice is not recognized by CDC. According to CDC, two doses of a two-dose vaccination series or one dose of a single-dose vaccination are mandatory. As a result, affected individuals cannot travel unless they qualify for another exemption.

Hygiene and distance rules for air travel

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, stricter entry controls and quarantine requirements have applied and continue to apply.

Although the entry procedure may vary depending on the U.S. state or port of entry, general hygiene and distance rules (face mask requirement, certain distance away from other people, regular hand washing, etc.) apply:

Departure / flight:

• disinfection of hands
• document control
  complete vaccination certificate or certificate of exemption
  NOTE: We strongly recommend all travelers to check in advance with the respective airline which application documentation is exactly required to avoid problems at check-in.
• fill in the U.S. traveler health declaration (Passenger Attestation Statement)

Entry:

• additional proof of COVID-19 vaccination
• additional interviews by CBP officers, if necessary

Note: The U.S. quarantine regulations depend on the current corona case numbers and are therefore subject to constant changes. In addition, the regulations vary greatly depending on the U.S. state through which you enter the United States.

On-site quarantine and COVID-19 rules depending on the U.S. state

Quarantine regulations upon entry into the U.S.

On-site quarantine regulations and sanitation measures – i.e., after entry into the U.S. has occurred – will vary based on the vaccination status of individuals traveling beginning November 8, 2021:

All information about the quarantine regulation in the USA can be found here. 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States is subject to almost constant fluctuations, quarantine rules and regulations in the 50 states are constantly being adapted.

Who needs to be quarantined?

Quarantine regulations within the U.S.

The quarantine and COVID-19 regulations within the U.S. are very different, which makes it difficult for U.S. travelers to always stay informed. While there are strict quarantine regulations in some U.S. states (Alaska, Hawaii, etc.), there are hardly any regulations in other regions of the United States. Companies and their employees must therefore make sure they are aware of the current regulations in the U.S. state through which the employees wish to enter the country.

This means that you may need to take into account regulations of several states when planning your travel route in the United States.

Visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) website for information about COVID-19 testing sites.

In the following we refer in detail to the official COVID-19 safety information of the individual U.S. states. This list is in alphabetical order.

For more information about current quarantine regulations, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Please note that the final decision on to the eligibility of each individual to enter the United States is made by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the border.

Quarantine and COVID-19 rules when leaving the country

Depending on the requirements of the destination country, a new Corona test may also be required when leaving the United States.

The reason for this is that strict entry regulations apply to individuals traveling (back) to Germany, for instance, from a high risk area such as the United States.

In any case, please contact the respective local authorities for information on the currently applicable regulations.

Updated on 20.6.2022